Means for protecting alpha bank against robbery



March 1, 1932. 5 WERNER 1,847,320

MEANS FOR PROTECTING A- BANK AGAINST ROBBERY Filed Dec. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1, 1932 WERNER 1,847,320

MEANS FOR PROTECTING A BANK AGAINST ROBBERY Filed Dec. 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 I dual/mag Patented Mar. 1, 1932 Darren STATES STANLEY WERNER, or m LwA nnn, WISCONSIN MEANS iron. rnornc'rmen BAN]; AGAINST ROBBERY Application filed December 20, 1930; Serial 1%. 503,792.

, This invention relatesto means for protecting a bank against robbery, and it is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement whereby a person doing business with a bank 5 teller or other employee or oflicer of the bank is confined within an enclosure, and wherein entrance and exit from such enclosure is under control of thebank teller or other person.

Another object of the invention is to providea device of this kind'wherein afloor of a building is divided by a wall into two rooms, said wall being bulletproof in character and of a nature to efiectively protect unauthorized access to any person, or persons within one ofthe rooms, together with means in the second room for confining a person during the period he is doing business with an oflicer or employee of the bank within the first named room.

It is also an object of the invention to pro; vide an arrangement of this ,kind -wherein means areaiiorded to effectively trap a person within a pit or well.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the Combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved means for protecting a bank against robbery whereby certain important advantages are at tained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, aswillbe hereinafter more fully set forth.

Thenovel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention be the better understood. I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Y Figure 1 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating a means for protecting a bank against robbery constructed in accordance with an embodiment of invention;

Figure .2 is fragmentary view in rear elevation illustrating the means herein embodied for closing the operating circuit for the lock when the shutter is closed and alsoillustrating the means for maintaining the shutter raised;

These ventilators-may, be of any type preferred and, therefore, a detailed description I Figure 3-is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the shutter raised; Figure 4 1s a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fi ure 1 said fi ure bein also dia amc: s s gr maticin character.

- As disclosed in. the accompanying drawings, W denotes the regular walls'of a building structure providing a'floor F. This floor F 'isdivided into the'two rooms A and B by avertically disposed partition wall P. This partition wall extends entirely across the floor F from side to side wall W and also extends from the floor F to the ceiling C. This partition wall'P. is preferably of sheetiron of a thickness from between one-half inch to one inch although, of course, I do not-wish to be understood as limiting myself in this respect The room.A is generally inaccessible by persons within room B and in order that proper ventilation may be had within room A one.-or..more ventilators V are provided.

and illustration'thereof is believed to be unnecessary. I

The partition wall P ata desired point thereon is provided with awindow opening 1 which is normally closed by a solid metal shutter 2. This shutter 2, as herein-disclosed, is supported by'the guideways 3 for vertical sliding movement by an occupant of the room A and forwhich reason the lower a portion of the shutter. 2 is provided with a hand grasp 4. When the shutter 2 is raised it may be maintained in such elevated position in any manner des red. This means, however, initself is of no particular importance insofar as the present invention is concerned.

. The windowv opening 1 also has'disposed thereover in any well konwn manner, the permanent bars 5 allowing a, person to do business with an occupant of the room A through such opening 1 when the shutter 2 is raised or in open position,but of course preventing such person having such access through the opening l to obtain unlawful possession of any money or other articles which may be placed upon the conventional table or shelf 6 within the room A immediately adjacent to the partition wall P.

The window opening 1 opens within a booth or housing H, the side walls 7, the front wall 8, and the top wall 9 of which being also of sheet metal of requisite thickness. This booth or-housing H is immediately adjacent to the partition wall P and, of course, a portion of such wall P forms the inner or back wall of the booth or housing H. The front wall 8 of the booth or housing is. provided with an outwardly swinging door 10, said door automatically closing by one or more suitably positioned spring hinges 11. The inner face of the door 10 carries a keeper 12 which, when the door is fully closed, automatically receives a locking bolt 14 comprised in a lock mechanism M. V

This bolt 14 is projected or extended by'a spring or in any other conventional manner and'said bolt 14 is also of a solenoid type so that upon energizing of the associated fieldmagnet or coil also comprised in the lock mechanism, the bolt 14 will be retracted sufficiently to allow the door 10 to be swung outwardly into open position so that a person may either enter or leave the housing or 'booth H. w

This solenoidtype of lock mechanism is of a conventional type and for which reason a "detailed description and illustration is believed to be unnecessary.

The operating circuit a for this look mechanism M extends within the room A and has interposed therein a switch15 of a push but ton type and also interposed therein two relatively movable contact members 16 and 17. The contact member 16 is fixed to the wall P or other convenient support while the second contact 17 is carried by the shutter 2. When the shutter is fully closed the members 16 and 17 are in electrical contact but, as is believed to be obvious, during such periods'when the shutter12 is in raised or open position, the operating circuit a for the lock mechanism Mis broken, f It'is' also at this time to be stated'that the switch 15 is of a normally open type.

Suitably positioned within the room.A 'is an audible signal 18, herein disclosed as a bell. The operating circuit 5 for this bell has interposed therein a normally'open switch 19' arranged within the room Band preferably mounted upon the front wall 18 of the housingor booth H, r y

* The door 10 is normally closed and when closed is locked by the bolt 14 against openthen close the switch 15 resulting in retraction of the lock bolt 14 whereupon the customer may readily open the door 10 and enter the booth or housing H. After the cus tonier makes such entrance the door 10 will automatically return to closed position. The bank employee, such as the teller, will then raise the shutter 2 so that he may conduct the desired business with the occupant of the booth or housing H. During the period this shutter 2' is raised, as before explained, the operating circuit a for the lock mechanism M 'isbroken and, therefore, release on a re traction of the lock bolt 14 cannot be effected until after the shutter 2 has been returned to closed position.

After the business has been concluded with the customer the bank employee closes the shutter 2 and then again closes the switch 15 resulting in requisite retraction of the lock x bolt 14, thus allowing the customer to make his exit. 7 j V r r The booth or housing H is erected directly above a well or pit W of a desired depth and the floor of the booth or housing constitutes a downwardly swinging trap door 20 which is normally maintained in its raised or effective position by a sliding bolt 21. This bolt 21, asherein disclosed, has operatively engaged therewith at a point within the room A a pedal 22 which, when operated by a person within theroom A, will retractthe bolt 21 and allow the trap door 20 to swing downwardly and thereby precipitate within the well or pit W a person confined within the housing or booth H. This is of particular importance in efiecting the capture of a person endeavoring to rob the bank.

The shutter 2 may be maintained in any desired manner in its raised position but herein disclosed I provide a handle latch 23 secured to the partition 1 within the room A and which is adapted to engage a suitably positionedlug or finger 24 preferably positioned in close proximity to the lower margin of the shutter 2. 7

By the means for protection as hereinbefore described, it is believed to be self-evident that the bank employee is effectively protected against robbery and in the event a person occupying the booth or housing H should be guilty of any apparent or seeming unlawful act he can be confined within such booth or housing until outside aid has been obtained whereupon it will be a very easy matter indeed to efiect the capture of such'a party.

This applicationis partly in continuation of my 499.597 filed December 2, 1930.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a means for proalready filed application Serial No.

convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spiritthere of and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In combination with a partition Wall having an opening, a closure member for said opening arranged at one side of the wall, a booth at the opposite side of the wall and immediately adjacent thereto, the opening of the wall affording communication within the booth, a door for the booth, means for locking the door in closed position,'and means I at the same s1de of the wall as the closure member operable upon closing of the closure for releasing saiddoor locking means.

2. In combination with a partition wall having an opening, a closure member for said opening arranged at one side of the wall, a booth at the opposite side of the wall and immediately adjacent thereto, the opening of the Wall affording communication within the booth, a door for the booth, means for locking the door in closed position, and

means at the same side. of the wall as the closure member operable upon closing of the closure for releasing said door. looking I means, the means for releasing the lock mechanism being inoperative during the period the closure member is in open position. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

STANLEY WERNER. 

